Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we will aim to give you something to follow.
Today, we start off at Mornington where we like a debut winner and a mare who resumed in fine winning style and is expected to continue her hot form. At Goulburn, we are in the corner of a lightly raced filly who looks set to add to her record.
Mornington, Race 1, 12.15pm AEDT, Cleanaway Sustainability Sires, $125,000, 1500m
Swamp Vixen (Delago Deluxe) was an impressive winner at the first time of asking at Ballarat where she led all the way and stayed on strongly for a comfortable victory. She has been given time to get over that effort and from the inside gate promises to take some catching again.
Delago Deluxe, sire of Swamp Vixen | Standing at Lucas Bloodstock
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy for breeder Pipeliner Bloodstock, Swamp Vixen is a daughter of Evidentia (Redoute’s Choice) and four of her five foals to race have been successful. A 2-year-old winner and fourth in the Listed Talindert Plate, Evidentia is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Encounter and also the family of the two-time Group 1-winning sprinter Atomic Force (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Mornington, Race 3, 1.25pm AEDT, IDS Security H., $75,000, 1200m
Teramia (Deep Field) has looked progressive in a brief career to date and powered home for an easy win on debut, she was then spelled after an unplaced effort. She returned in triumphant style when heavily supported at Sale and, while the mare has drawn wide, she has got back in her starts to date and appeals as a leading chance.
Teramia as a yearling
Prepared by Matt Laurie, Teramia was bought by the Randwick Bloodstock Agency at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by the Southern Cross Breeders. A half-sister to the G3 Kindergarten S. winner Anise (General Nediym), she is out of Pimpinella (Flying Spur) and she is a half-sister to the two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Fairy King Prawn (Danehill {USA}), the G1 Salinger S. winner and sire Easy Rocking and the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor).
Goulburn, Race 3, 2.09pm AEDT, TAB Benchmark H., $35,000, 1500m
Whelk (Fastnet Rock) was a $300,000 purchase for Woppitt Bloodstock at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where the Arkle Bloodstock-bred youngster was offered by Coolmore. A half-sister to a pair of winners, she is a daughter of the unraced Zabeel (NZ) mare Airlie (NZ) and she is a half-sister to the G1 Champagne S. winner and sire Onemorenomore and the dual Listed winner and sire Dr Green. Their dam Palia (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) won the G3 Emancipation S.
Whelk as a yearling
The Chris Waller-trained Whelk handled a Soft track well when she came off a handy sit at Newcastle to be successful on debut. The filly backed that up with a solid effort at Hawkesbury to finish fourth and looks a top chance in the hands of Mitchell Bell.
